Emergency unemployment compensation to end, affect hundreds in region

Published: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.

More than 700 unemployed workers in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties will lose financial assistance when the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program ends Dec. 29.

In February 2012, Congress extended the program through the week ending Dec. 29. The end of the EUC program will affect about 75,000 to 87,000 North Carolina claimants, the N.C. Division of Employment Security said in a news release.

As of Oct. 27, there were 530 EUC recipients in Henderson County, 89 in Polk County and 150 in Transylvania County, according to the release.

Claimants currently on regular unemployment insurance benefits will not experience an interruption in their claim. Only those in the federal EUC extension program will be affected.

Prior authorizations of the EUC program provided for a graduated phase-out of eligibility for claimants receiving benefits on the scheduled expiration date. In this case, however, there will be no phase out and EUC benefits will stop.

“Our focus is on assisting these claimants and working with Department of Employment Security workforce partners to ensure resources are available when these benefits end,” DES Assistant Secretary Dempsey Benton said in the release. “DES plans to work with other state and local resources such as county Departments of Social Services and the community college system to help those who are affected transition back into the workforce.”

DES is currently paying about $25 million a week in EUC benefits.

For immediate assistance with services available to help unemployed individuals and job seekers, claimants are encouraged to visit their local Employment Service office. Available at 90 locations statewide, these offices offer a wide range of reemployment services, as well as connections to other community resources.

A directory of NC Employment Service offices is available at www.ncesc1.com/locator/locatormain.asp.

Once the EUC program ends, the maximum eligibility available to claimants will be 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. There will be no other extension programs in place.

<p>More than 700 unemployed workers in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties will lose financial assistance when the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program ends Dec. 29.</p><p>In February 2012, Congress extended the program through the week ending Dec. 29. The end of the EUC program will affect about 75,000 to 87,000 North Carolina claimants, the N.C. Division of Employment Security said in a news release. </p><p>As of Oct. 27, there were 530 EUC recipients in Henderson County, 89 in Polk County and 150 in Transylvania County, according to the release. </p><p>Claimants currently on regular unemployment insurance benefits will not experience an interruption in their claim. Only those in the federal EUC extension program will be affected.</p><p>Prior authorizations of the EUC program provided for a graduated phase-out of eligibility for claimants receiving benefits on the scheduled expiration date. In this case, however, there will be no phase out and EUC benefits will stop.</p><p>“Our focus is on assisting these claimants and working with Department of Employment Security workforce partners to ensure resources are available when these benefits end,” DES Assistant Secretary Dempsey Benton said in the release. “DES plans to work with other state and local resources such as county Departments of Social Services and the community college system to help those who are affected transition back into the workforce.”</p><p>DES is currently paying about $25 million a week in EUC benefits.</p><p>For immediate assistance with services available to help unemployed individuals and job seekers, claimants are encouraged to visit their local Employment Service office. Available at 90 locations statewide, these offices offer a wide range of reemployment services, as well as connections to other community resources.</p><p>A directory of NC Employment Service offices is available at www.ncesc1.com/locator/locatormain.asp.</p><p>Once the EUC program ends, the maximum eligibility available to claimants will be 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. There will be no other extension programs in place.</p>